Integrated Regional Water Management Plan

Draft Short-Lived Climate Pollutant Reduction Strategy

Title

Draft Short-Lived Climate Pollutant Reduction Strategy

Abstract

The science unequivocally underscores the need to immediately reduce emissions of Short-Lived Climate Pollutants (SLCPs), which include black carbon (soot), methane (CH4), and fluorinated gases (F-gases, including hydrofluorocarbons, or HFCs).
The largest source of black carbon emissions in California, by far, is wildfire. An average wildfire season contributes two-thirds of current black carbon emissions in California. As climate change accelerates, our drought-ravaged forests will only become more vulnerable to wildfire and disease. Indeed, many of California’s forests are already in a perilous condition and require accelerated management and investment to protect them. Several Federal, State, and local agencies are currently coordinating on forest planning, which will lead to the development of a comprehensive Forest Carbon Plan in 2016. As part of this and related efforts, black carbon mitigation will be considered along with forest health, carbon sequestration, habitat and watershed production, and other drivers associated with protecting our forests.
As California pursues additional reductions in black carbon, further climate change and public health benefits can be realized. California’s efforts to reduce particulate matter emissions have been linked with improved lung function in children. Further reducing black carbon emissions also decreases exposure to toxic diesel particulate matter and associated health risks. Significant national and international climate change, air quality, and public health benefits can be achieved if the rest of the nation and the world follow California’s lead on black carbon.

Purpose

California must achieve deep reductions in short-lived climate pollutant (SLCP) emissions by 2030 to help avoid the worst impact of climate change and meet air quality goals. Additionally, intensified, global action to reduce these emissions is the only practical way to immediately slow global warming and is necessary to keep warming below 2oC through at least 2050, which is a critical threshold to manage the damaging effects of climate change.